Most people on here have probably broken numerous masts over the years, so I just wanted to collect some data here for everyone's benefit (especially mine ).

I think the major things to know may be (but feel free to add or subtract):

Age of mast?
Length?
RDM/SDM?
Carbon %?
Type of mast if known? (eg. freeride, wave, race etc)
Main type or types of sailing?
Size or sizes of sail used?
Cambered or non-cambered sail(s)? (camber wear might be a factor)
Estimated number of hours use before breakage?
Your weight?
Was there an event in particular that broke the mast? (Feel free to add stories)

This is not designed to be a brand bashing fest. I think generic data would be better.

Thanks in advance for any input.

I'll start.

Age of mast? 3 months
Length? 460
RDM/SDM? SDM
Carbon %? 30%
Type of mast if known?
Main type or types of sailing? Freeride
Size or sizes of sail used? 7.5m
Cambered or non-cambered sail(s)? 2 cams
Estimated number of hours use before breakage? 50
Your weight? 84Kg
Was there an event in particular that broke the mast? Yes. I got some advice on this forum on a way to unstick my mast by supporting at both ends, then jumping on it (yes, I know it sounds stupid NOW, but didn't at the time for some reason ).

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Was there an event in particular that broke the mast? Yes. I got some advice on this forum on a way to unstick my mast by supporting at both ends, then jumping on it (yes, I know it sound stupid NOW, but didn't at the time for some reason ).

Elmo'ed. I laughed when he posted that, was sure it was tongue in cheek.

But never broken a mast, but never play in serious surf. Oldest mast is my 430 Notrh sting 30%, used consistently for 6 years.

yeah jumping on masts is a real bad idea. Personnaly i have never had any problems with masts. usually nuse NP 30 %. Last untill i want a new one, we are talking years.

NP X3 booms are another story however. They last about one month past the warranty period deffinitley changing brands on the next one.

Age of mast? Unknown, probably around 5 years
Length? 430
RDM/SDM? SDM
Carbon %? 30%
Type of mast if known? Pryde X3
Main type or types of sailing? Freeride
Size or sizes of sail used? 5.7 mostly
Cambered or non-cambered sail(s)? No cams
Estimated number of hours use before breakage? Heaps. Bought the mast secondhand.
Was there an event in particular that broke the mast? Just standing in the shorebreak, holding the top of the mast as a small (1 foot) wave of whitewater passed over me, felt the mast go "click" and then watched the sail collapse and the broken mast poke out the luff tube.

Can't complain about that particular mast, it was pretty knackered when I bought it...
Agree about the X3 booms, I've seen lots of them snap or bend when they were still quite new.

Never had any mast break, touch would (says while tapping head),

Fibarspar 3000 460 30% - lasted +4 years mixture of no-cam and no 2xcam sails. Donated to sailing school.

North Xcellarator 490 dropshape 60% - +5 years still going used with 3 cam sail.
Still make up part of kit shows wear around cam contact but still going strong.

Gaastra freeride 460 55% SDM - 3 years mixture of no-cam and no 2xcam sails
Sold with sail in excellent condition.

Ezzy Hookipa 90% RDM 460 complete + 400 bottom - 12 months mainly no-cam and 2xcam with my 7.5. No failures yet. Cam contact points has superficial scratches.

Around 1999
430
SDM
55%
Wave
Fiberspar
Waves and B & J.
Non cambered.
Countless hours use and rinses.
6.2, 5.4 and 5.0 wave sails.
Still going strong (touch wood/head). One of the best masts Ive ever owned.
Also to fit 3 sizes on one mast is a major bonus.

2006
460
100 %
Race
Gaastra
Cambered
10 hours or about 5/6 sails.
7.6 & 6.6 race sails.
After one run at Botany just standing in the water heard a very loud bang, looked down and now I have a 3 piece mast. Snapped clean about 10 inches below boom.
(*^&^$$@#%^*&*((

Does anyone know what kind of warranty is provided with a mast? 1 year? # hours use?

If you are spending over $1K on a carbon mast and it's buggered after 10 hours use, isn't it reasonable to demand a replacement?

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trebuchet said...

Does anyone know what kind of warranty is provided with a mast? 1 year? # hours use?

If you are spending over $1K on a carbon mast and it's buggered after 10 hours use, isn't it reasonable to demand a replacement?

Most manufacturers have 1-2 year warranty on their carbon masts/

The mast came from Maui and will be warrantied.
I just have to come up with US $150 for freight.

Age of mast? 3yrs
Length? 460
RDM/SDM? SDM
Carbon %? 30
Type of mast if known? (eg. freeride, wave, race etc) freeride - gaastra express
Main type or types of sailing? B & J
Size or sizes of sail used? Mostly 7.0
Cambered or non-cambered sail(s)? (camber wear might be a factor) Non-cam
Estimated number of hours use before breakage? lots
Was there an event in particular that broke the mast? (Feel free to add stories)
Heading upwind & bang. 1.5-2km paddle back not appreciated with cut finger. Watch 'em carefully, very sharp at break

Age of mast? 3 months
Length? 400
RDM/SDM? RDM
Carbon %? 90
Type of mast if known? (eg. freeride, wave, race etc) wave
Main type or types of sailing? wave
Size or sizes of sail used? 4.7, 5.2
Cambered or non-cambered sail(s)? (camber wear might be a factor) Non-cam
Estimated number of hours use before breakage? 20
Was there an event in particular that broke the mast? (Feel free to add stories)
I was standing on the shore. A big wave on shore break picked up board over my head and drilled mast into the sand, end on. Mast collapsed like an accordion. I don't think any mast would have survived that treatment.

Mast was replaced under warranty

Nobody,

I don't think your survey will assist you at all to pick a new mast really. They can all break. Some facts:
100% carbon race masts break much more easily and with only normal use.
A recreational type will usually last much longer in freeride type situation.
Keep it in a padded bag and don't bash it around. Ever. Don't even tap it on the ground or the wall when carrying it to the car.
RDM's are strongest by a mile.

My slant on it: you don't need a 100% carbon mast for freeride (that is 90% of us). The reflex response of a 75% is pretty damn fine and it will last longer. Unless you race at a pretty high level I would not bother.
Likewise with wave masts you don't need a brand new shiny RDM if you sail the ocean without proper breaking waves and you jump around a bit. Maybe you do need one if there's a bit of shorebreak. Many of us old pre-RDM fellas used SDM's in waves that were not really dumpy or not over head hi and they lasted a few years easy.

A few years ago I broke one SDM per season roughly, I bought Ezzy RDM's and haven't broken a mast for 4 years. See Leech's example: they can break.....BUT you have a better chance of warranty replacement with a reputable brand RDM. the SDM wave masts mostly have a "no shorebreak" clause in the warranty.

G'day Mark

I see you're off your medication.........

Cheers

Ken

Age of mast? 3 months
Length? 400
RDM/SDM? RDM
Carbon %? 85
Type of mast if known? (eg. freeride, wave, race etc) wave
Main type or types of sailing? wave
Size or sizes of sail used? 4.5, 5.3
Cambered or non-cambered sail(s)? (camber wear might be a factor) Non-cam
Estimated number of hours use before breakage? 20
Was there an event in particular that broke the mast? (Feel free to add stories)
Adjusted boom in water. Was in the process of water-starting and BANG, clean snap about 1 inch above boom.

Waiting to hear back on warranty (Which is p1ssing me off because it has been blowing 4.5 weather up here for the last 2 weeks).

What about 'sailor weight'?

Is this going to turn into a mast-debate?

Thanks to everyone who has contributed.

Thanks Shane for the idea about the person's weight. I'll add it to the top. Should have thought of that since it is a big factor.

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Mark _australia said...

Nobody,

I don't think your survey will assist you at all to pick a new mast really. They can all break. Some facts:
100% carbon race masts break much more easily and with only normal use.
A recreational type will usually last much longer in freeride type situation.
Keep it in a padded bag and don't bash it around. Ever. Don't even tap it on the ground or the wall when carrying it to the car.
RDM's are strongest by a mile.

My slant on it: you don't need a 100% carbon mast for freeride (that is 90% of us). The reflex response of a 75% is pretty damn fine and it will last longer. Unless you race at a pretty high level I would not bother.
Likewise with wave masts you don't need a brand new shiny RDM if you sail the ocean without proper breaking waves and you jump around a bit. Maybe you do need one if there's a bit of shorebreak. Many of us old pre-RDM fellas used SDM's in waves that were not really dumpy or not over head hi and they lasted a few years easy.

A few years ago I broke one SDM per season roughly, I bought Ezzy RDM's and haven't broken a mast for 4 years. See Leech's example: they can break.....BUT you have a better chance of warranty replacement with a reputable brand RDM. the SDM wave masts mostly have a "no shorebreak" clause in the warranty.

Mark, thanks for the information. I still think the numbers and people's experiences will benefit at least some of us. Even if I don't buy another mast in the near future. You may have noticed I didn't ask for brands. I'm just trying to get a more rounded view of mast reliability in general.

Off topic a bit but you can use broken masts as flag poles.


You can only use the broken masts on ANZAC day and the like though, when you raise the flag half mast

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eyeMhardcor said...

Off topic a bit but you can use broken masts as flag poles.


You can only use the broken masts on ANZAC day and the like though, when you raise the flag half mast

Like this eyeMhardcor??
Made from broken sdm's....it did get much taller




Note the NP flag falling to bits.[}:)] The flying objects one we had after that lasted the rest of the season

Bump

Age of mast? x7 np hmmm..3-4yrs. 2nd hand
Length? 460
RDM/SDM? SDM
Carbon %? 100
Type of mast if known? (eg. freeride, wave, race etc) freeride, race
Main type or types of sailing? freeride race
Size or sizes of sail used? 6.5, 7.2
Cambered or non-cambered sail(s)? (camber wear might be a factor) cambered
Estimated number of hours use before breakage? 2 x a wk. x 2hrs. x +-3seasons x 4mos.
Your weight? 80kls-168lbs
Was there an event in particular that broke the mast? about to lift the sail and board to water then thwaaak! 2ft from the base.why always 2ft. from the base

So, has anyone ever had or heard of an RDM break on flat water???

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eyeMhardcor said...

Off topic a bit but you can use broken masts as flag poles.

For my daughter's 21st last Sat, I built a 10m high light tower using 2 old fibreglass mast topped with the top half of carbon mast.
Put an old batten through the strap holder of the end plug, them wound fairy lights around & around & around & up & down.
Very effective as you couldn't see the masts in the dark, so told the gullible 20 somethings that I just used a sky hook



Oh & of course, better half said "You just had to get a sail in there somewhere, didntya"

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Harrow said...

So, has anyone ever had or heard of an RDM break on flat water???

Yep, Vando broke one three weeks ago speed sailing. Folded his board too.

Bump

Age of mast? a:-3yrs.....b:-apx 7yrs (bought 2nd hand late last year)
Length? a&b:- 460
RDM/SDM? a&b:- SDM
Carbon %? a:- 30% b:- 90%
Type of mast if known? (eg. freeride, wave, race etc) a&b:- freeride
Main type or types of sailing? a&b:- flat/chop
Size or sizes of sail used? 6.5 - 7.5
Cambered or non-cambered sail(s)? (camber wear might be a factor) both broke on cambered
Estimated number of hours use before breakage? a:- 50-70hrs b:- 10hrs (prolly alot by prev owner though...looked used!)
Your weight? That's a bit personal!!! (110kg)
Was there an event in particular that broke the mast? (Feel free to add stories) In the early days had a habit of dingin' the nose of the board.....going by break area, the previous owner of mast (b) did too! But, both broke on light wind days with my 7.5, just cruising.

This is not designed to be a brand bashing fest. I think generic data would be better. Couldn't agree more.......but both were same brand. I'll never purchase that brand mast again!

Nice post Sailhack.
Thanks to everyone that made a contribution to the survey/questionnaire.